Dental assistant I (Full time)

002 Sea Mar Community Health Center; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 50,000 - 84,000; Full time

Job summary

Sea Mar Community Health Center is seeking a Dental Assistant I to support the dental team in delivering comprehensive care to patients. The role includes chair-side assistance, four-handed dentistry, and helping with a range of procedures, with emphasis on patient comfort and safety.

The position requires passing a pre-hire competency test with at least 80% and completing probation evaluations and annual competency tests.

Responsibilities

• Provide chair-side assistance using four-handed dentistry for diagnostic, preventive, restorative, endodontic, periodontic, oral surgery and other procedures.
• Escort each patient to and from the treatment room in a courteous manner.
• Provide patient education and instructions before, during, and after dental procedures.

Job description

Sea Mar Community Health Centers, a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) founded in 1978, is a community-based organization committed to providing quality, comprehensive health, human, housing, educational and cultural services to diverse communities, specializing in service to Latinos in Washington State. Sea Mar proudly serves all persons without regard to race, ethnicity, immigration status, gender, or sexual orientation, and regardless of ability to pay for services. Sea Mar's network of services includes more than 90 medical, dental, and behavioral health clinics and a wide variety of nutritional, social, and educational services. We are recruiting for the following position:

Sea Mar is a mandatory COVID-19 and flu vaccine organization

Job Title

Dental Assistant I

Position Summary

To assist the dental provider in the delivery of dental services to Sea Mar Community Health Center patients demonstrating the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the patients being served. The pre-hire competency test must be passed (at 80% correct) before a person can transfer or be hired. At the time of hire, an employee will be given the training plan and calendar with all important dates and the outline of what material is to be covered. At that time the expectation must be made clear that they will be required to pass a competency test after 60 days worked in order to pass probation. At 40 days worked, the employee will be given an evaluation of job functions and outlines any deficiencies that need to be improved. Any training necessary to clarify these expectations will be given by the dental supervisor or dental designee at that time. The Probationary Competency Evaluation/Test will be given just prior to reaching the 60th day worked. Only two hours of paid time should be allotted to complete the evaluation/test. It shall be scored as follows:

1. i. Above 80%-Pass
   1. 1. Probationary Eval to include review/training on wrong answers
2. ii. 60-80% -Extend Probation for 22 working days
   1. 1. Probationary Eval to include written list of areas to resolve
3. iii. Below 60%-Terminate employee.

An annual competency test will be given each year to all Dental Assisting staff that has been out of probation for more than 90 days. If this annual test is not passed with at least 80% correct, the Dental Assistant will receive 1-on-1 training in deficient areas, within 1 month of the annual test. Failure to pass the subsequent tests it will result in disciplinary action including suspension and up to termination of the position.

Duties and Responsibilities

As a mission-driven organization, the core values of, and the services offered at Sea Mar are based on the belief that everyone deserves to be respectfully treated in a way that preserves dignity and enhances self-worth. Sea Mar is an advocate for its clients and aims to achieve industry-leading, client-centered, culturally-aware services.

Job Description

Sea Mar employees serve as an extension of this mission and demonstrate their commitment to an excellent client experience by:

• Understanding and empathizing with client needs
• Surpassing client expectations
• Demonstrating a high level of integrity
• Exhibiting compassion and commitment
• Advocating for social justice
• Taking pride in individual work as well as that of the team
• Continually learning to stay current with industry standards, best practices and technology

As a Sea Mar employee, the individual in this position commits to adherence to these values to their utmost ability and endeavors to strengthen and embody this mission daily.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Anticipate and provide to Dental Providers all necessary chair side assistance using four-handed dentistry technique with procedures in categories as required: Diagnostic, Preventative, Restorative, Endodontics, Periodontics, Oral Surgery, Prosthodontic, Orthodontics and other services allowed by the Washington Dental Practice Act.
• Identify and categorize each patient's age‑specific grouping of needs, such as those for infant, adolescents, and geriatric patients
• You must escort each patient to and from the treatment room.
• Greet, seat, and depart patients, being courteous and professional at all times, especially when talking to patients or discussing confidential information.
• Provide patient education and instructions to patients before, after, and during any dental procedure.
• You are responsible for communicating provider delays and delays in patient flow to the Lead Dental Assistant, the Dental provider, the patients, and the front desk staff.
• Participate in scheduling appointments arriving, and departing patients in Dentrix and registering patient in Allscripts PM.
• Have the ability to complete thorough, accurate charting in Dentrix using S.O.A.P. or P.A.R.T.S. format.
• Obtain accurate blood pressure readings and other vital signs as directed by Dental Provider.
• Maintenance proper sterilization methods and OSHA regula